Gabriella DePinho is a writer on the discovery team. She has found cheap(ish) things for medicine cabinets, movie nights, and a good night’s sleep.
My one New Year’s resolution for 2023 was to finally start working out consistently before the end of the year. My only problem? Gymtimidation (basically just anxiety about going to the gym). Well, that, and I lacked earbuds that could handle a real workout.
Listening to my favorite songs while I work out motivates me. But my normal headphones were wired, which I worried would limit my mobility—plus, they were on the fritz. I needed a wireless pair so I could move freely, but they had to be inexpensive so I wouldn’t sweat the cost if I didn’t end up sticking with my new gym routine. So I went to Wirecutter’s workout headphones guide, scrolled straight to the budget-pick writeup, added the JLab Go Air Sport to my cart, and checked out.
Though I knew I could trust our audio team’s recommendation, I was still surprised by just how much I’ve grown to love these budget earbuds. They’re no longer just the earbuds I bought as a quick, cheap fix to my problem—they’re also a pair I’m quite happy to rely on for daily use.
Budget pick
These affordable earbuds hook over your ears, so they stay in place, and they sound surprisingly decent for the price. They lack features like noise cancellation and a hear-through mode.
Quality sound and design at an affordable price
I’m in my early 20s and living with my parents while paying off school debt. So getting a good deal was a must. I had braced myself to spend around $75, but to my delight, the JLab Go Air Sport earbuds were only $30 (sometimes they’re on sale for as low $20).
I was immediately impressed by the quality of the sound for the price. My music comes out clear and balanced, and everything sounds exactly as it’s supposed to. I don’t miss out on any of the nuances I enjoy in my favorite songs—whether it’s a particularly sweet guitar riff or a whispered lyric. And kicking up the volume doesn’t negatively affect the audio quality.
These earbuds came with three silicone tips, and wearing the right size creates a seal, which blocks outside noises. As a gym newbie, I appreciate this because it means I don’t have to hear the person next to me grunting as they bench 100 pounds while I struggle with my 10-pound dumbbells.
Though these earbuds seal into my ears nicely, they also hook over my ears to stay in place; this gives me a sense of security that only wired earbuds used to provide.
The hook design initially worried me, since I’m someone who uses my over-ear real estate for glasses. But my glasses and earbuds can happily coexist, with only minimal adjustments.
Oh, and have I mentioned how cute they are? I got mine in teal—my favorite color since I discovered the blue-green Crayola crayon in pre-K. And I love the pop of color I catch every time I check my form (or attempt to flex) in a mirror.
Long-lasting battery life and convenient charging
Because I was a longtime wired-earbuds user, I’d never had earbuds I needed to charge before. So I was wary of what I was getting myself into, especially with a budget pair of earbuds.
Our guide said I should get 8 hours of battery life, and an additional 24 hours of power from the case, but that the volume and number of calls you take can affect how long it lasts. In the first six months of having them, I used my earbuds for dozens of hour-long workouts, a handful of two-hour commutes to the office, and a few two-plus-hour flights, and I only had to fully recharge the charging case twice.
The charging case uses a USB-A port, so I use it with a phone charger block that I already own. The cord is connected to the case and snaps into the bottom so you can’t lose it, which I sincerely appreciate. (Some might find the case a bit bulky, but because I keep mine in my gym bag instead of my pockets, I don’t mind the size.)
Good enough, but imperfect controls and microphone
The touch controls on the JLab Go Air Sport are large, but I found them difficult to use (and to remember), even after reading the manual. I primarily use the volume up and down controls, and I have found the device response to be fairly reliable and consistent for those. Senior staff writer Lauren Dragan, who wrote our workout headphones guide, mentioned that the touch control responses could be finicky, especially if hair got in the way, which I’ve also experienced.
The touch controls are split between the two earbuds, so if you have only one in, you’ll have only half the controls available to you—volume up or down, not both. But you can always use your phone’s controls instead.
While the silicone tips create a nice, sound-blocking seal, these earbuds lack active noise cancelling and hear-through features. When I wear them outside, I’ve found the earbuds block out most noises, but I can still hear cars and cyclists for my own safety, as long as I keep my volume a bit lower than usual.
I’ve never been one to take calls through my earbuds—I like holding the phone to my ear! And while I love my JLabs for music, these earbuds won’t convert me anytime soon. I had the unfortunate experience of answering a call from my boyfriend while I was hoofing it on the treadmill; while my heavy breathing was certainly a problem, he said my audio sounded muffled and far away, even after I caught my breath.
Easy to keep in good condition
These earbuds have an IP55 dust- and water-resistance rating, which Lauren called “above average” in the guide. It means these earbuds can handle my (embarrassingly) sweaty gym sessions and not get ruined.
And when they’re covered in sweat at the end of my workout, they’re easy to wipe dry with a towel before I pop them back in the case. So they stay clean before I put them back to work the next day.
This article was edited by Rachelle Bergstein and Catherine Kast.
